Down from 49.8 in April, the index captures what the headline jobs numbers don't: real Americans are getting squeezed. Gas is averaging $4.50 a gallon nationally — up from $3.15 a year ago — and consumers expect prices to keep rising another 4.5% over the next year. Said Joanne Hsu, director of the U-Michigan survey: 'Consumers continue to feel buffeted by cost pressures, led by soaring prices at the pump.' The boardroom is doing fine. The pump tells you everything the press release won't.